-Mo Ali backs down on US$150,000 allegation against ECOWAS Delegates
Following a strong statement from ECOWAS regarding his controversial post about their delegates receiving US$150,000 from the ruling CDC, Mohammed Ali, the former Secretary General and Campaign Spokesperson of the former ruling Unity Party (UP), has clarified that NO CONTACT was made with ECOWAS ELECTION MONITORS and NO DISBURSEMENT OF CASH was made to them.
Sunday, November 12, 2023, he wrote via his official Facebook page- “On November 10, 2023 I made a post relative to the Government of Liberia allegedly disbursing US$150,000 to ECOWAS Delegates with the purpose of affirming would be rigged results
from the runoff elections. Our findings have shown that the Government of Liberia did meet and make a plan to disburse said amount. However, it is important to clarify that NO CONTACT was made with ECOWAS ELECTION MONITORS and NO DISBURSEMENT OF CASH
was made to them.
“We applaud ECOWAS for their continuing contribution to the consolidation of our
democracy and we call on them to incessantly work in such direction.” Following Mo Ali’s claim over the weekend, ECOWAS expressed regret about the statement, and characterized it as a “reckless statement”. “The ECOWAS Observer Mission takes strong exception to this scurrilous statement, which puts at risk the safety and physical integrity of the ECOWAS Observers from across West Africa who have come to accompany the good people of Liberia in this pivotal election.”
With this, the ECOWAS Observer Mission called on the leadership of the Unity Party to denounce the statement made by its National Campaign Spokesperson that seeks to denigrate the image of ECOWAS. The ECOWAS Observer Mission also challenged Mo Ali to prove this scurrilous accusation or publicly withdraw it immediately and tender an unqualified
apology. “Failing this, the ECOWAS Observer Mission and the ECOWAS Commission reserve the right to employ all necessary measures to hold him personally accountable for his
utterance.”
“The ECOWAS Observer Mission urges all citizens of Liberia to deepen the positive
outcome of the October 10, 2023 elections by remaining focused in living up to their civic responsibilities towards the November 14, 2023 Presidential run-off. In this regard, the ECOWAS Observer Mission counts on the people of Liberia to disregard such falsehoods perpetrated by individuals who may seek to derail the positive democratic gains made by Liberians.”
The ECOWAS Observer Mission assured the good people of Liberia of its complete
neutrality towards the contestants in the November 14 Presidential run-off pol. The
Mission further reaffirms its total commitment to a credible, inclusive, and peaceful electoral process in Liberia, in accordance with its mandate under Articles 12 and 13 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
